MicroRNAs as biomarkers in molecular diagnosis of refractory epilepsy

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a type of endogenous non-coding RNA that can regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, invasion, apoptosis and several other biological activities by specially inducing gene silencing, and thereby is related to development and disease in life course. In recent years, researchers have found that miRNAs are closely related with refractory epilepsy. MiRNAs can intervene in the modification of mRNAs, the synthesis of proteins and some the connectivity of signal pathways in pathogenesis of epilepsy. Furthermore, some miRNAs in neurons are of great importance in neuronal differentiation. Therefore, miRNA may play a very important role in the occurrence, development and episodes of refractory epilepsy. These discoveries can provide a new direction for the research of pathogenesis, diagnostic methods and therapeutic approach of refractory epilepsy. Although research about miRNA and intractable epilepsy has progressed, more remains to be done before miRNA can be used in clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies. This paper focuses on the research progress of molecular diagnosis about miRNA in intractable epilepsy.